§ THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURYsaid, that it would be recollected that some time since he brought before the House the subject of the legality of the opium trade, carried on by the East India Company with China, and the noble and learned Lord on the woolsack promised to take the opinion of the law officers of the Crown on the subject. He begged to ask the noble and learned Lord, whether the question of the legality or illegality of this trade had been submitted to the consideration of the law officers of the Crown, in accordance with the promise which had upon a former occasion been made by the Government; and, if so, when that opinion was likely to be given?
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, that subsequent to the statement which was made by his noble Friend upon the subject in that House a case was prepared upon which it was proposed that the opinion of the law officers of the Crown should be taken. The case thus prepared was submitted to the authorities at the India House in order to ascertain whether the facts set forth in it were correctly stated. It was found upon communication with the President of the Board of Control that the facts were not considered to be so stated, and the document containing the case was at present under revision. The question had, in consequence, been suspended for a short period, but it was by no means the intention of the Government to delay submitting it to the notice of the law officers of the Crown beyond the time which must necessarily be occupied in endeavouring to secure a correct representation of the facts.